And, for me, even a few dozen dollars is worth the peace of mind of coming into a warm, well-lit house, so I turn on the heat and lights before I get there. My mom kinda gives me a hard time because it's a waste, but... gotta pick your battles

The real cost is probably when you have to change the light bulb for a new one. Assuming you get LED ones to save electricity, they will be guaranteed to last 20,000 hours, but beyond that is uncertain.

That amount of hours is most likely enough to last a decade (unless the LED is killed by a power surge), but if you run it 24/7 that's about two and a quarter year.

Yeah it's pretty cheap especially with an LED bulb. Using between 5 and 20 watts (depending on brightness) times 24 hours/day, 30 days/month uses between 3.6 and 14.4 kilowatt hours. At an average US cost of 12 cents per kwh, that comes out to between 43 cents and $1.73. Not quite as low as a nickel per week but pretty close! Basically only .50c to $2 a month to leave a standard LED light on continuously. A CFL bulb would also only run around $1-3/month but incandescents could start to be noticeable at somewhere between $3 and 10 bucks each month depending on brightness.

We have a small lamp in the living room that stays on 24/7. I’ve been doing this since I moved in with my husband 9 years ago and I don’t think I’ve replaced the light bulb more than twice. It might have only been once. It’s so infrequent that I don’t even remember.

You can set them up with Alexa, control on/off or intensity. Control them with a timer or even a wireless motion sensor (I had my sensor pointed at the door, activated between 11pm and 6am. If somebody would open the door, the light in my bedroom would switch on at 100%).

I did this. I moved into a 4 bed/3.5 bath house, living solo. Got smart switches (some don’t need a hub and just has an app to control them) and connected the entryway lamp and upstairs loft lamp facing the street to the net. They come on at sunset every day and turn off before midnight, whether I’m home or not.

We just close our blinds if we are going to be gone when it’s dark. The light still shines through and no one can see inside. A teeny bit if preparation solves this problem. Occasionally yes, you may be out unexpectedly but that’s probably not often. If it is, just always close the curtains or blinds when you leave the house.

We have a smaller australian cattle dog (think 30 pounds) and also a giant german shepherd (100 pounds). I had the internet guy coming to set something up and I locked the dogs away while he was there, but they were barking like crazy. After he left, he must have been doing something in the driveway for like 15 minutes because I let the dogs out and both dogs bolted for the driveway (we're in the country with an acre so we let them out the front). The German shepherd was licking the man and the little blue heeler was losing his shit growling and barking at him. "Just ignore him!" did not comfort the poor internet guy haha.

It's super interesting! The cattle dog is much more protective of me (female) than my partner (male). The dog absolutely detests it when people approach me that he doesn't know - he'll growl at the person until he picks up on my body language that I am comfortable and safe and only then will he relax (but he's still wary). We're trying to work with him on being friendlier with strangers. The cattle dog loves loves loves the people he knows so fiercely lol.

Lol we have a pit that looks mean as hell and will bark and growl when she hears something at the door. Hopefully no one with ill-intentions ever figures out she's a giant marshmallow. Surprisingly, though, it was our extremely timid dog that jumped between me and a man that walked by alarmingly close to me on our porch in the middle of the night. All of her hair raised and she started growling and I was so in shock I just stared at her. Luckily, that terrified the guy and he got away from our porch very quickly.

This. I had so much trouble sleeping when my husband was away (often, for work). Every little noise would have me laying there wide awake listening for the next. Got a dog and now I sleep like a baby. Have a Jack Russell now. Little thing but she’s feisty and would possibly try and stop someone but will definitely make a ruckus and wake me.

We thought our family dog would never be a good guard dog (she loved everyone) but one time someone came around the back of the house at night (it was a homeless guy) and she went nuts. They know when you're in danger!

All dogs will defend their family if someone tries to hurt you. Dogs are for protecting property, they are for protecting people.

In saying that I don't like how people casually say "just get a dog". A dog is a living creature and deserves a good life, yes they fill this role but it shouldn't be their only reason of existence. Dogs are expensive and require effort and love. My first image when reading those comments is they have a dog chained up outside neglected and taught to be aggressive. I know that's not the case. But some people do , do that. And that's not okay.

Dogs have huge variances in appeararance, temperament, aptitudes. My mom's little westie would absolutely NOT protect me or my property. They have been bred for different tasks, and those genetics and years of breeding manifest in different ways. Coupled with the fact that modern dog ownership looks very, very different than having a dog solely for protection, I wouldn't count on "all dogs" protecting my person

This is not at all true. Very few dogs will genuinely defend their owners without formal training AND the right genetics. Most will make a lot of noise, sure, but that's actually due to insecurities. Almost all family dogs will back down when an adult human challenges them, even in their own home.

A common misconception about dogs are that any dog with no formal training is going to protect you. This is rarely the case. Their presence may act as a deterrent for most people but anyone who knows about canine behaviour will not be so concerned. The majority of pet quality dogs may bark, growl, put on a show but will back down when an adult human challenges them.
Also, most GSDs are not the same dogs they were decades ago. They are nervy, anxious, unstable and insecure.
6 years professional experience working with dogs

Teaching them to bark at things is kinda hard. If he barks at a knock or a doorbell, have someone do it repeatedly or find a video of the noise and play it, and reward him with treats and affection when he barks.

Get the dog trained to alert for someone nearby. I had 2 100+ dogs in my house, no one unknown came in unless I walked through the door with them. I always greeted people outside but not before they heard and saw my girls through the crack of the door for a few minutes barking furiously. Fox hound pointer mix and yellow lab.

A teacher I had for a short course, he told us a story about how someone had the bad luck of choosing his house to break into, even the police who knew him said so. He’s a renowned dog trainer who trains dogs for people all over the world, think sniffer, tracking and attack dogs for organisations. That robber got bit big time.

Awesome choice :) my rescue pittie was originally just as an emotional support animal to help me with my PTSD but after having her for 2 years, her protective nature with me is so obvious. I’ll walk her at night and she never barks, but if a stranger walks too close and they don’t look friendly, she will let them know to not come near me and physically place herself in between us while we walk.

Not sure how to train it into a dog. Just make sure you love and discipline him a lot so that if it comes down to it, he’ll hopefully respond to you in an emergency.

I have a 30lb half basset bound/Australian Sheppard. Super sweet. Big (but small) dummy. But he has a great bark if he hears someone outside. If someone can’t see him, they’ll hear that bark and probably not fuck with us.

If someone were to enter and see him, they’ll probably get some kisses and steal some shit.

That sounds so similar to my friend’s dog! He’s a beautiful Yorkie, obviously not very big, but has an absolutely tremendous bark that scares the shit out of people when they come to the front door. He’s a real sweetheart though :)

A few years ago some burglars were apprehended in my neighborhood. They had a list with them of all houses with dogs. No matter if it was a chihuahua or a Doberman pincher. So smart choice! Even if your dog only wants to cuddle you, he’ll still be on that list!

I was going to recommend this. I've had police officers tell me that even a small dog inside a house can be a deterrent to home invaders.

Thieves or other people up to no good don't know if your dog is sweet or not, if they hear a bark or see a dog through the windoe the possibility of getting bitten makes your house a less attractive target.

I have two dogs, you'll always hear the little one, but you do not want to hear the big one. I lived in an apartment complex where every apartment got broken into, except mine, guess they tried to go through the window and big dog was standing there. I love my giant dog.

Depending on how old he is he might still learn to bark. My labradoodle never barked until she was about 6 months old and oh boy we wish she never started. Any noise outside the flat and she sounds like she’s a vicious dog. There are definitely breeds that bark more than others.

If you know any other barking dog owners have those dogs round and he might pick up that habit.

It depends on the nature of the dog. If he’s really that friendly, teach him to bark. Teach him to bark aggressively; kinda like an on off switch. It’ll really help and sometimes the size of the dog doesn’t matter!

I have a 45 lb, shiba inu who barks his head off if anyone gets too close and the strangers steer clear. He’s made some real creepers back away and it’s been great. No one can enter my home without me knowing, he always lets me know.

The lamp idea was also a fantastic one. Not only will it help when you come home at night, but statistically, most bad guys don’t steal from homes they think are occupied.

I bought a cheap set of door alarms. They will work on doors and windows. There’s a switch on the side where you can set it as a chime or a screeching alarm. I had someone open my door in the night and the alarm was enough to scare them off. Still scary but thankful I had something in place.

There are tons of options for this. Think of retail doors. They make the bells that mount above doors that ring when opened. Sensors that sound when someone passes. Some now connect to wifi and your phone. An small 3 person office I do work for has just a regular buzzer motion sensor. It has multiple speakers in individual offices alerting them when someone enters the lobby. Handy for when the receptionist may be at lunch or off work.

A Ring doorbell is nice as well. Video monitoring, you can look at what your doorbell can see at any point in time through the app, as well as get a notification on your phone whenever someone goes on your front porch and rings the bell.

I recommend WyzeCam. $20, 14 day revolving, unlimited motion uploads, SD card for all time recording, real time feed, true infrared, and other neat features. I don’t get kickbacks, but I do own 3 regular ones and a Pano (one you can spin and tilt remotely for $30).

The things my mom nags me about are: keep your windows locked, lock your door at night, make sure you have good blinds/curtains on your windows, get a peephole or chain for your door, get one of those home security doorbells if you can afford it, make aqcuaintances with your neighbors if you can because they can help you keep a lookout for suspicious activity.

I dont even live in a house, just a small apartment but my mom stresses because Im alone.

One thing to keep a watch for that was happening where I live: If somebody shows up claiming to be from such and such company (electric, water, gas, etc) call and confirm with your provider and DO NOT let them inside your house until you have done so. The people casing my apartment complex had an official looking vest and everything and were going door to door. Just be on your guard and dont trust strangers at your door.

Sometimes they are legit, but they are those third party companies. Trusted company A gives you electricity, but then company B says they can sell it to you on a variable rate that is cheaper than company A. "Can I see your electric bill?" Is the common question. Thing is, it isn't always actually cheaper and then your bill goes up and it's very annoying to track them down and figure out who to cancel with.

I still answer the door for no one. I peek out the window, take a look, and shake my head no and walk off.

Edit: spelling

Sometimes they are legit, but they are those third party companies. Trusted company A gives you electricity, but then company B says they can sell it to you on a variable rate that is cheaper than company A. "Can I see your electric bill?" Is the common question. Thing is, it isn't always actually cheaper and then your bill goes up and it's very annoying to track them down and dignified out who to cancel with.

This is important, IMO. Answering the door is NOT compulsory, even if they know you're in there. I don't think it's rude to not answer for someone you're not expecting, either, and yet, far too many women I know would disagree because of the perceived social rudeness of it

I have emphatically impressed upon the 4 1/2 year old that I nanny for the importance of never answering a door without knowing who is on the other side. It amazes me how many people are like, “oh, a knock? I shall run to the door and see what wonders await me!”

Hell no. My door isn’t opening unless I know who you are or I am expecting you. If you’re knocking at my door, you’d better have pizza.

I also do not answer the door to our delivery’s (Uber eats, pizza, or grocery deliveries). I have my boyfriend do it whenever possible. I want them to know there is a man here, even if he’s not even remotely scary looking. I hear wild stories about Uber drivers and I know that those very same people I have now invited to my door to see me and everything else I’ve got inside my apartment (mainly a 70 inch tv you can’t possibly not see).

Had one of these companies call me at one time. Seemed legit and they weren't that much cheaper which made it more believable, than had they huge promises. They sign me up and I get the contract, skimmed it through and noped the hell out. Half the stuff the sales person mention on the phone was false and just a pitch to get people trapped.

Not much of a scam, but rather shady business practices trying to exploit people unaware or not cautious enough. Last and final time I allowed a sales person on the phone talk more than 1 minute.

Get stickers that say 'this property under video surveillance'. Get security company stickers & signs as well for the garden.

I had a custom made steel frame, perforated screen steel door installed on the front and backs doors. Very secure, I could see out, they couldn't see in. It was very nice looking, provided ventilation & security. I think it was about 400 for both doors through local fabricators.

Check into video surveillance options through your internet company. Some of them can be super simple plug & play, offering sensors for doors & windows, and motion detectors with camera for super, super cheap. You can then see your property via your mobile phone, which I really love. You can even yell at someone through the camera!!! 'GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE'. Love that option.

You can get an 'armed at home' option which sounds a loud siren if the door is opened when you're at home and it's activated, as well as an emergency button to push to sound the siren if you're at home and have a problem.

If this is your own house, plant roses or bougainvilla or other thorny bushes under every window. Burglars don't like thorns. I also use equally thorny bushes around the vulnerable perimeter points of the property; anywhere a crook can climb over. Again, they hate thorns & bushes. Cactuses work great too if your climate agrees.

Motion activated light fixtures around the entire exterior of the house, with 2 options; first make sure you have a switch inside that I call the 'Boogey Man' switch. One flick and ALL the lights outside go on. Cockroaches and crooks hate bright lights. You can also hook these up so if these are activated, it sounds a buzzer of sorts to alert you.

Get a machete. Yep. Dirt cheap from the garden center, fucking lethal. I kept one behind my front door. Don't fuck with me.

Get a 'dangerous dog' sign, oh heck, get two. Place them prominently. Don't need a dog, the sign will do. Burglars are assholes and stupid, that's why they're burglars and can't get a decent job, they're going to avoid dangerous dogs.

I had alarmed screens installed in vulnerable windows, but since I had all the other things going on, I never once turned on or activated my alarm system, and I lived in an area best described as 'hood adjacent'. I had real dogs though, who could be noisy, I know that helped a lot. I knew my neighbors too, since I did a lot of gardening & home improvements. It's a great way to meet your neighbors, and you all look out for each other.

Someone dropped off a flyer at my front door that had my electric companies name on it, wanting to check out my plumbing ... Is this legit or is it someone trying to scope out my house? I never called the number on the flyer as I myself think it's a scam

The people casing my apartment complex had an official looking vest and everything and were going door to door.

These were probably people hired by third-party utility suppliers. They pay people like college students or others who need a bit of cash to go door-to-door trying to get people to switch their electric supply to them. They basically just buy and sell electricity credits from different actual producers and often end up being more expensive, but they're legal businesses, likely not casing apartments to rob. Of course that is a potential possibility, and I wouldn't let any random strangers in my home anyway without verifying directly from the company that there was some emergency reason for the unscheduled visit.

No, burglars will actually pretent to be a utility company there for an inspection. A burglar did this to my entire apartment complex and asked people about times they could come back. (in order to know when people wouldn't be home) 20 of my neighbors were robbed by the guy before he was caught and my dog was what saved me from being robbed. Casing places for a few weeks is common for career burglars.

This exact thing happened to me when a burglar cased my place. Luckly my dog who is sweet as can be decided to turn into kujo when the guy was trying to break in. Woke me and all the neighbors up at 5am. (I had told them I go to work at 4am and had to get back to sleep so no, you can't come inside.) It happened to be my day off.

Then why wear a seatbelt? Why wear sunblock? For me, personally, statistics aren't very comforting because of the exceptions. And I think that mindset is a very very rational reason to be vigilant, maybe take a class or something for protection

Are you really comparing the frequency of a nighttime forced entry to sunburn?

I understand there are dangers in the world. wearing a seatbelt and wearing sunscreen are wise choices every time appropriate.

Forced entry in home at night by a stranger? this simply never happens in the suburbs in a good neighborhood in the US however I have no idea whether the Op lives in San Paulo Brazil or somewhere dangerous? So I'm not going to recommend against precautions.

I figure the majority of people who have been robbed or burglarized and killed in the act thought they would be fine too, either out of obliviousness, faith in statistics, or faith in God or whatever. You can only control certain things in life, so why not control those you can?

Staying focused on the real dangers in the world is a best expense of effort. just because the house creaks when the wind blows doesn't mean you're in any danger. If getting an alarm system allows you to sleep better at night I guess there's no harm. But I was also recommend that you address the likely dangers in your life first and foremost.

Well, that's a given. I'm not saying to go through life paranoid. Life is full of choices, and each involves a cost-benefit analysis. I consider $15 a month to be a small price to pay to avoid the guilt and regret and "I should have..."s that would follow an event that could have been prevented or mitigated. We all have different ideas about what "worth it" in any given scenario, whether it's about time or money or mental or physical effort. I won't buy an extended warranty on a TV, but I'll certainly make a small effort to protect my home, my pets, and my own safety.

Yeah, I suggested getting an alarm or if the upfront cost seemed to steep to pony up immediately to get window alarms to give peace of mind.

It takes time getting used to living alone. I decided to get a dog about a month after buying a house bc I needed something else to make noise to quiet my mind. I was fine and I was safe... but I had to do something to make me feel fine and safe. And that’s fine.

That's what we use. No internet where we are so neat, ring, etc are not options. It's only $15 a month. I care less about my stuff than I do about the fire department being alerted and getting my animals out, but it's also nice having the panic buttons as well, just in case. Oh yeah, and carbon monoxide detectors are monitored as well.

This is probably in a different spirit than intended but make a plan in case you are choking. You have to act fast and you will most likely be alone, so know to call 911 and possibly be ready to go outside on your front lawn to get someone's attention. Choking is an emergency where you cannot talk directly to emergency services.

Become friends with your neighbours or at the very least, learn their schedules. If you know when someone else is home at the same time, you know what door you can knock on for help.

Take standard first aid to learn what to do in the event of an emergency. Practice your fire escape plans. Make sure your fire extinguishers are still good and fire alarms are working.

The point of moving to your lawn is it increases the chance that someone will see you. Perhaps they will try to help you or at the very least, talk to 911 on your behalf or call from their house. If you pass out, it is more likely someone will see you there than in your living room.

You can attempt to self-heimlich on your front lawn, take a dining room chair with you to perform a drop. Keep in mind that you will become weak quickly so it really has to work the first time.

yes, people who know the self heimlich do remember, as it has saved many, many lives. it is as effective as the regular heimlich maneuver. hospitals, emts, firefighters and medical personnel all teach the self-heimlich and stress that mere seconds is the difference between life and death or brain damage. going outside to seek help (with or without a chair) is not a recommended procedure and is specifically mentioned as a dangerous move. in those few seconds, you can save your own life as long as you follow instructions from the pros and don't think you're smarter than all medical and emergency personnel and thoracic researchers.

according to professor sir malcolm green, of the royal brompton hospital, whose study on the self heimlich was published in thorax magazine (one of the world's most respected respiratory medicine journals), people often try to go out onto the street, which loses valuable seconds, ending in death or brain damage.

rather than continuing on with you about this life-saving maneuver, i just hope that if you or a loved one is by themselves and is choking, that you will remember this conversation (and teach them) and not waste precious seconds trying go outside to seek help, when you have only seconds to make a life-saving decision or end up dead or brain damaged due to wasted seconds without oxygen. many, many others have successfully remembered to do the self heimlich, and i hope that you do, too, if it is ever needed.

This is key! A young guy on my boyfriend's hockey team passed away last year after choking while home alone. I would definitely invest in first aid training anyways, or at the very least I am sure youtube has some great videos for self-teaching.

This literally happened to me a few months back. I can say this with certainty. You won't make it to the street before you pass out. I jumped up and got it unstuck right away but I started to fade about 5 or 6 seconds in. I practice Brazilian jiu jitsu and I can say with absolute certainty I'm very familiar with the feeling you get just before you pass out in a choke and I was there albeit more panicked than ever before.

Replace the screws in all of your door locks. They usually come with shorter ones that are easy to kick in.
Keep some form of weapon by your bed. A bat, a knife, a cast iron skillet, anything in case of a last minute panic. Be careful not to accidentally almost use it on a drunk friend you said could crash on your couch and forgot about when you fell asleep.
Keep your blinds and/or curtains shut as often as possible. The less people know about the inside of your home, the less they know there is to rob you of.
You might be tempted to wear headphones to bed. Don’t.
When you shower, keep your phone on the counter in close reach in case of at emergency. Always lock the bathroom door.
Speaking of locks, keep them all that way. Make it a habit to lock your door the second you get home and when you leave. Keep windows locked as often as possible. If you have a back door, keep that locked.
And finally, there are cheap security camera sets or motion sensors that you can buy. Most even connect to your phone nowadays. You could also always go for the stack of cans by the door method.
I lived in a shady area for a long time after a break up with my SO and realized I was very alone and aware of it constantly. Stay safe, and I hope you enjoy your new place and independence!

I don't mean this in a rude way but wow does this post make you feel paranoid. I've lived on my own (31/single/f) for 5 years now and other than locking my door when I get home, I've done none of these things and still feel safe. Do people really live in this fear??

Yeah. I think it depends on the person. I understand where you're coming from. I'm mildly paranoid and always keep in mind that so many people say, "you never think this would happen to you" when bad things happen to them. I keep it in mind lol. I'm not saying it's healthy but it's how I am at the moment.

I live in a very safe area but down the street from me randomly some home recently had a home invasion robbery. Regular burglaries happen often enough. My grandma at the other end of town used to leave her garage open often and twice people wandered in and she caught them coming upstairs.

Just because you live in a safe area doesn't mean the people who live in the bad area a few towns over can't get in a car and visit. Don't make yourself vulnerable.

Exactly. I think that it's a bit... naive to trust "a safe neighborhood." Because bad things happen in safe neighborhoods all the time, and people are likely victimized differently because of the trust in the general safety of their 'safe' neighborhood. And yet, in mine, there was a pitbull attack and home invasion recently

And that's fine, I'm glad that nothing bad has happened to you so far. But mindsets differ a lot by place, culture, location, person, habits, values. I'm probably pretty paranoid in your view- always have mace or better when I go walking, never have 2 headphones in at once, and a myriad of other precautions. I don't think it's unreasonable to be vigilant and not go by the safety of a "good neighborhood" - my neighbor just got bitten by an off-leash pitbull recently, and robbers interviewed noted in one podcast how much they pay attention to schedules. For the same reason I have health insurance, "that would never happen to me" happens to someone, and I don't want to take more risks than I have to, be it a tad paranoid or not

It depends on where you live and what your experiences are, I think. I've lived places where I felt totally secure, and places that are statistically high-crime as well. Some people on the thread have called OP paranoid and I'm guessing their circumstances have always been different from OP's, they just don't realize it.

It really depends on specifically where you live. In plenty of isolated upper-middle-class suburban and exurban single family developments, sure you could probably leave your doors unlocked and curtains open for years and be fine. In many inner city run down low income shady areas however, your TV would be gone along with whatever else looked obvious within a few days, and most of the suggestions above would be warranted. For most people in general, so long as all outer doors and ground floor windows are kept locked and there's nothing valuable in plain sight from the street, plenty of that would be over the top but wouldn't hurt if they were feeling nervous.

Whatever steps people take to have peace of mind is never extreme. In Brooklyn sexual assault is fairly common and I'll be damned if I end up on that list. So call me paranoid all you want but I feel safer taking some of these precautions.

I got cats... they spook easy so I know if someone is approaching the door. Best part... when things go bump on the night my first thought is what did they do? Not who is breaking in. Might be silly but puts my mind at ease. Makes a quiet house not scary!

Another way in which my cat helps me is that she spooks really easy, but she sleeps in bed with me and only reacts to real human noises. She always perks her head up for doors opening, voices and footsteps without fail. So when I hear a creak or house-related noise and I look down and she is still snoozing, I know I’m safe.

Obviously it’s not foolproof but it helps calm me down a lot when I’m completely alone in the house.

My dad prides himself in having dogs to "guard" the house. Those dogs only know when someone comes up on the deck and don't even bark (too friendly). My cats know if someone pulls in the driveway and if it's not my car or my husband's work truck, like they can hear if it's another vehicle, they look at us like DAFUQ?!?

My cats are the same way! I live in a duplex and we share the driveway with downstairs neighbors. My cats can distinguish each of the four cars we have in the driveway and know by how we enter the front door if it’s me and my husband or the neighbors.

You can also take classes and seek training in firearms before purchasing one. If you are intimidated by them this may help to relieve some of your fears and make you a safer gun owner. By doing these classes you should also meet people who are generally more knowledgeable and I’m sure would be willing to help.

If you have a car with key that have a working remote, keep them by your bed, and if you hear someone trying to break in or anything, press the panic button. The alarm may scare them off, or make neighbors take notice.

I told my previous neighbor to do this when she had a creeper around (found a pile of cigarette buts behind a tree in her yard). I told her if she thinks someone is in her house or breaking in, hit the panic button and backup will arrive!

Living alone is great! You will get used to it and then you'll wonder why you were ever scared. Don't let paranoia impact your enjoyment of your space/life. Of course if you live in a dangerous area you could take some of the precautions others have suggested.

i agree. don't stress about living alone. use common sense about locking doors and windows, don't open the door to strangers, buy a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it, get to know your neighbors, invest in a simple security system. beyond that, just enjoy being the master of your own space. there's more of a chance of being attacked out on the street than in a home invasion.

Sounds stupid but... get a landline. It traces to your address when you dial 911 and you don't have to worry about it being charged as long as you keep it on the stand. Get one of those cordless sets of 2, keep one next to your bed. The only tip I have that hasn't already been said.

I have a Ring video doorbell 2 because I wasn't sure I wanted to go straight into getting a full on home security system. After looking at a bunch of reviews comparing different brands, I went with the Ring because it was decently priced (got a good Black Friday deal as well) and it was easy to set up.

Mounted it right by my regular doorbell by my front door and it's motion sensitive so I get notifications, with a 30 second video clip of the activity, directly to my phone when someone comes within a certain distance of it.

It's a doorbell camera that you can monitor from your phone. I have a version of one tied into my security system. I have a console in my kitchen and I can see anyone who walks up to my door. The doorbell will also record a 30 second clip each time it detects motion. It also has a two way radio feature when you can talk to someone through it.

Get a sturdy chain lock on your door, make sure all windows are locked, also put wooden blocks in any big windows or sliding doors. When I loved alone my Grandpa helped me set my apartment up to make me feel safer and these things helped me a ton!

Put an old, dirty, used pair of men's work boots (try Goodwill) outside your front door. Gives the illusion that you're not living alone.

Something I haven't seen in the comments yet is to hide all electronics and valuables before you go to bed. For example, put laptops and tablets under the couch, keys and wallet away from the front door, & cell phone near you. The less visible valuables, the better. And if anything were to happen, your cell phone is your one and only lifeline.

Keep a weapon at an arm's reach from your bed. I have a mini taser, but pepper spray or a knife work well, too.

Haha I’m 100% with this. I used to live alone in an apartment and was fine. Single AF as well and figure ill stay this way, but hope to buy my own home eventually. I recently moved in with my parents who have a 3 bedroom.. they went away for the weekend and I was terrified at night. Left half the lights on and slept in the living room with a knife on the coffee table . Thinking my dream of owning my own house should be a condo instead :o pretty disappointed, but I slept like sh*t.. good luck!

Get a dog and get to know your neighbors! Dogs are basically an alarm and, in my experience, a dog’s bark is far more likely to scare someone off than an alarm system because a dog poses a physical obstacle (as in, my dog scared away an attempted break in one night - I’ve never been scared by a dog while breaking into someone’s place). If you’re on good terms with your neighbors, they’ll be more likely to keep an eye out. And if you find yourself in an emergency situation while alone, you’ll be able to bang on doors.

Dogs also help with anxiety, so you’ll be at ease and comfortable. Fear is like a festering wound - it only grows over time. So nipping it in the butt as soon as possible is never a bad idea.

I was all those things once, and there are times I miss everything about it... except falling asleep at night! If you want and can get a medium or large dog that would be the easiest solution. I could only have cats, so I actually booby trapped my house before bed. Fuckin Home Alone style. I had a chain lock on my bedroom door so if an intruder tried to come into my bedroom I’d at least have a minute to react and either call 911 or grab the aluminum bat by my bed. That, along with various other ways of being alerted to someone sneaking in, like hard to see things below windows and a table that would be knocked down in front of the doors. Anyway, I was paranoid city for many years and nothing ever came of it. Statistically, you’re fine and no one will try to break in while you’re sleeping to rape/rob/murder you.

oh man, just like small things on tables in front of doors, so if the tables get knocked over a bunch of small items will get thrown on the ground. same in front of windows kind of, if someone were to come through a window they would have stepped on a bunch of crap. just a lot of ways to keep an intruder from being quiet or stealthy.

Haha I'm glad I'm not the only one. I dont live in the best area. I have a pitbull and sleep with a loaded .38 on my bedside table and still boobytrap the house when I'm alone. I drag couches in front of my door. Put stuff in front of my slider. I hate taking a shower if I'm alone. I've been like this since I can remember.

Pepper spray on your keychain/in your purse/next to your bed. Something good to clobber with in your room (baseball bat, pipe). Security system/camera. Always pay attention to your surroundings when entering/exiting your home and check for anyone who seems to be watching you repeatedly/closely. Have your door key in your hand a ready to unlock the door before you get out of your car/off public transport. When I'm feeling sketched out I usually open up my phone and type in 911, so if something happens I can hit call right away.

We just invested in a couple of Blink brand security cameras for our house after a near break-in scare. One points at the front door, one at the driveway. They've got motion sensors that will record a video and send you a notification to your phone whenever there's movement outside. Great for peace of mind. They're on sale on Amazon for $78/camera right now.

My father and uncle run a guard and security company and I'll just add a few ideas I've picked up over the years.

An alternative to actual cameras can be dummy cameras. They're meant as deterrents but naturally won't be any help if the burglar doesn't notice them or hides their face. Primary reason to get them is that they're cheaper than actual cameras so you can set up a few more, for better 'coverage', for the same price.
One thing to keep in mind for cameras, dummy or real, is that a mask can make them nearly useless. Except for insurance purposes, where camera footage of the break-in is excellent.

As for other deterrents, you can set up external lights to motion sensors, the brighter the better (keep your neighbours in mind though). It's probably the most effective deterrent because it attracts the attention of everyone around (neighbours for example), which scares ne'er-do-wells more than a camera.

Another thing you can do for deterring break-ins is looking for guard and security companies that may work in your area. Even if you don't want to pay for a monthly subscription for active coverage, such as a burglary alarm, you can ask if they sell stickers with their logo to put in your windows. The idea being that it gives the notion of an alarm being installed.
One in front should be enough, although if you have a back yard and back door with little visibility to neighbouring houses, a sticker back there could also be an idea.
Not all companies will do this though, since it does potentially cost them some business.

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This last bit probably goes without saying, but I saw you mention that you have a dog and that it's a bit too friendly for a guard dog. The best guard dogs are of course the larger breeds, since anything smaller than knee height is easily overpowered.
If you want your dog to become a good guard dog, some police stations, at least where I live, offer dog training courses. For you to train with your dog, they won't do it for you. Otherwise you may be able to find a privately conducted course.
That being said, if someone really wants to rob specifically your house, it's not unheard of for perpetrators to just get rid of the dog. This can be done in any way from letting it out of the garden, locking it in a room, distracting it with food, or actually hurting it. Having a friendly family dog may actually be positive in this case, since the perpetrator won't be forced to do it harm.

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I hope you can use what I've mentioned. Of course if you do look up a local security company, getting a consultation from a professional is always a good idea.

My cousin is a sheriff and he recommended that I get a baseball bat rather than mace or a taser or anything. They're easy to use and it puts a good amount of distance between you and a would-be robber/bad guy. I actually happened to have one already and slept with it by my bed. It made me feel better and I never had to use it.

Someone else mentioned getting to know your neighbors and this is excellent advice. I knew all of my neighbors in my old neighborhood (and several in my current one) and would've felt comfortable banging on their doors for help.

Thanks everyone. I feel a bit less overwhelmed. I live in a safe area but we've had a lot of "car window smashings" and theft, no home invasions or break ins lately in the neighborhood. but i cant help "with my luck i bet its going to be me"

I hate going home to a dark house in the winter - it's just not welcoming, so a couple of weeks ago I bought these plugs from Amazon (link below) - they work by connecting to your wifi and you download an app on your phone, sync it to the plug and you can turn it on or off, set timers etc from anywhere in the world. I now never go home to a dark house - it's great.

If you don't have a security system, buy a cheap placard from amazon that says you do. I have this one. Make sure your doors and windows are always locked. You can get sprinklers for the yard that are motion activated also lights that are motion activated. I would invest in them. Mind you, all of these are deterrents and won't necessarily keep out everyone, but it will keep out most of them. Dogs are great, too. You want it to be a big barker.

Also, you can look tidy without looking rich. Don't make it obvious if you have expensive things in your house. Curtains, blinds, and shades will hide anyone looking in and seeing that big tv, nice stereo, etc.

I consider it intelligent to get a security safeguard. I got a safety system that monitors windows and doors from a local company and I sleep a lot better at night. I’m 58 and a woman alone. I also have a six inch knife secured in its holder attached to the side of my nightstand where I can reach it. Don’t tell me I’ll never reach it in time, I guarantee if you come in my house when I don’t want you there, I will fuck you up. I promise. Take some self defense classes so you feel better about protecting yourself. We have to take care of ourselves.

I slept with the lights on for a while and I’d triple check the locks every night. I have a small dog but he doesn’t and wouldn’t help much. I make sure my phone is charged and right next to me just in case and I bring my purse upstairs with me at night. Last thing I do is check all the doors. That’s pretty much it. After about a month I got used to it. It’s weird but it gets easier.

Not sure if been posted but I saw an article awhile back about a girls dad who replaced the screws in her door lock. Apparently, the screws they come with a door lock are rather small and can be forced to give easily. Might be worth checking into.

Not sure if been posted but I saw an article awhile back about a girls dad who replaced the screws in her door lock. Apparently, the screws they come with a door lock are rather small and can be forced to give easily. Might be worth checking into too.

Yes!!! Weird I was just going to reply this. Essentially one shoulder bump will break into your house, but with long wood screws on the door lock plate and even a battering ram will take at least 30 minutes which gives you some time to react.

Can of wasp spray. Totally legal and has a super far range and direct stream of spray. You can also consider arranging furniture to be easily slid in front of your door but it would need to me multiple pieces deep because if you can push it there an intruder and push past it.

You hold it over your shoulder by the hood of the torch with one finger on the power. Leave it off until said invader is spotted, at this point shine the maglite in his eyes (that shit is blinding) then take a nice big swing at his cranium.

Have you got security grilles on your doors and windows? Also putting window locks on and patio bolts on sliding doors is good. Sensor lights for front and black doors and outside your bedroom window should help. I always leave the light in the lounge on when I’m not home and sometimes the tv. I did also leave the tv on while I slept which isn’t super practical but it made me feel good

Most home invasions - burglary or something more nefarious (contrary to tv) do not happen at night. Burglars don’t want anyone to be home and so they’re more likely to try and invade during the day. Get a home sec system and contents insurance.

Extra car in the driveway. Last time I bought a car, I did not trade in my old one. I want going to get much for it anyway, and like having a spare for when one is in the shop. (I drive hundreds of miles a day for my work and must have a working car at all times) I drive the old one once a week or so. Since there is always a car in the drive, it gives impression that I dont live alone.

NPR or other normal talk radio. My aunt leaves NPR talking all night in the living room. (As well as one on her back patio near the trash can, she swears it keeps the raccoons away) I'll walk into her house and hear voices coming from the family room and think someone is there.

Doorbell with speaker you can answer from your phone. Many home invasions start with knock at the door that goes unanswered.

Exterior lights with motion sensor. You dont have to keep every light on all night, and can see from your windows when they go on.

Yes! I did the car thing for a while. I only moved it when it was dark, so no one really knew who was driving it.

Also, a Wemo - almost forgot about that one. Last Summer, I had it attached to the blender for a while, and I would randomly turn it on when I knew the druggie neighbors were outside (via camera). Also had the shop vac attached to it for a while. Did my best to make it seem like someone else was there!

Always keep the front porch light on and maybe even the back. Keep your car keys by your bedside. If you think someone is breaking in or you hear a noise, make your car alarm go off and that will scare them off.

Lived in a lot of places, can’t say anything about security but as for feeling scared of being alone at night just know that it takes time to feel safe and cozy in a place. For me it’s about 2 weeks to get used to all the new creaks the house makes. After a while you’ll feel safe at home like any other place.

Don’t fall into routine, have friends sometimes over, get an alarm and pepper spray. Try to get to know at least one neighbor in case something does happen (burglary, accident, you get sick...) so you have someone to rely on near you and reciprocate the kindness.
Get drapes/curtains, if you can get a pet.
Maybe a night light.

Where i am from living alone was easy and crime rate is pretty low so it was easy. But most important lesson i learned is to at least get to know some of tour neighbors. Some will be assholes some will be life savers

I live in an urban area and decided ,after nothing good coming from it, that I’m not going to spontaneously answer my door anymore. If you know me, you can text me you are coming over. Too many guys selling magazines, trying to change my utility provider etc to worry about my own safety of exactly WHO is at my door and their threat level.

Best thing to make you feel at peace is to shut and lock your bedroom door at night. My boyfriend makes fun of me every time but i live alone and this has helped my peace of mind tremendously. Also a pet could help, even just a cat. My cat heard every noise and if she was alarmed you knew by how she was acting with her ears perked and listening on edge (although it was never anything). Christmas lights or the tv on help it to not be completely dark which helps me also. On bad nights I’ll sleep with actual lights completely on. Best of luck to you

Everyone is saying get a dog, but I say get a cat. When I heard strange noises but saw she was all snuggled up and not alert I felt okay and comforted. You can also ask a friend to live with you for a few days until you get accustomed to the place.

Don't make it easy for someone to break in, but don't put security bars on your window either.

Most crimes in terms of buglary are either planned or crimes of opportunity.

For example, if you buy a whole bunch of expensive new stuff and leave the boxes for it outside of your door, this is a "hey, come rob me" flag.

Outside of making yourself an attractive target, you're more concerned about the people just going door to door, looking for a door that is unlocked on a dark house (meaning the resident is either away or asleep)

The top comments of (a) put your lights on a timer (b) attach something loud to your front door (or set your alarm) and (c) lock all your doors and windows at night are the best things you can do.

Get curtains or blinds that make it difficult to see inside with 100% block the view. Basically, if you have your house on lockdown, that means there is probably stuff worth stealing in there. If you make it questionable, a burglar is going to go find a more sure target.

Take a deep breath! Shit always seems scarier to deal with than it actually is. If you want peace of mind, keep a baseball bat next to you, invest in a security system (ideally with cameras), get a good lock for your bedroom door, and maybe a small safe for your personal stuff. Oh, and since you live alone, learning the self-heimlich maneuver isn't a bad idea.

If you can, try and keep a pet around; it's always nice to have a buddy and it makes living alone less scary. Personally, white noise and one of those colored night-lights that don't really light up the room help me relax when it's late out. You got this!

Personally I don't worry too much about theft because I realized I own so little stuff that it would be too bad to replace anyway. there's an upper limit for how bad theft can be and mine isn't that high.

Safety tips: you ~never have to let strangers in. Door knocks don't need to be answered. Politeness be damned. People that insist on entering are trouble.

Lots of great suggestions for you! Make sure you to remove any kind of ads/literature left on your door or driveway. And if possible, have packages delivered to your office or a PO Box. You don't want to give any impression that someone isn't home or checking up on the property.

Get locks on the door you don't have to manually lock, ones where you know the door will be locked as soon as you close it (like a deadbolt) or else you'll be forever wondering "am I sure I locked it" and getting up to check in the middle of the night.

Invest in a home security system, especially one that comes with motion sensor and a loud alarm.
Put the cops on speed dial.

I used to live in a house with no security system but small window alarms work well. They are cheap, easy to install, and versatile as they can be used on different types of windows or even a door. Remember to check the batteries from time to time though. And turn off the alarm before you open the windows or else the neighbours might get desensitized and start to ignore it if they hear the alarm in the event of a true emergency.

I sleep with a few "tools" on my nightstand, just a normal pepper spray, a hidden screwdriver which I can grab easily and a sharp scissor.
Basically anything that I can use in an event of a home invasion, and as a woman I feel that small tools that can function as weapons gives me a better chance than say a baseball bat which I'm not strong enough to hurl, as any effort can be easily overpowered by a male. I don't keep a knife for similar reason.

I don't think it is paranoia, as once you've experienced a home invasion before it's hard to feel safe in your own house anymore. It really sucks.

This is a good habit for peace of mind: when locking your doors at night before bed, say out loud, "the doors are locked." This will make it easier to recall and keep you from having that 'oh my god did I leave the iron on?' moment as you try to fall asleep.

I know I might catch hell for this but here it goes. Have you thought of buying a handgun? Having firearms in my house may have saved my wife when I lived in CO. I was out in the field for work and someone broke into our apartment while my wife was there, luckily she had the handgun I bought her. She never fired it, but apparently the guy saw the gun and ran out of there.

If you do buy a gun, please do firearms training through your local police department.

My grandma gave me a an old pair of my grandpa's work boots to put outside by my door. That way it looked like a big dude who worked construction lived there. I would swap them out with old running shoes I found at a yard sale. I know it's not foolproof but just an extra idea.

Some ideas:
Security cameras with battery back up let you see what is happening outside your home. Motion activated, battery operated, lights at the top and bottom of stairs. . Bells or chimes on the interior of your doors and windows. If you have a first floor porch with a roof over it, then put bells or chimes on the second floor windows above the roof. Tour the house before bedtime to make sure every window is closed and locked. Get in the habit of locking the door behind you each time you enter the house. Learn if your locality allows 911 text messages.

Smoke detectors (and carbon monoxide alarm if you use gas) with battery changes every time the time changes (spring and autumn). Fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage, bedroom is a good idea, too. Learn how to point them at a fire properly. Keep a couple of canisters of salt, both opened, in the kitchen that have no other purpose than to put out a cooking fire.

Living alone is a skill that not many people have. Most people have either a spouse, a roommate, A child (or two or three), or a pet of some kind. But trust me, these people don't know what true freedom is. To live completely by your own rules, and do only the things that you want to do with no compromise. Don't be afraid. Living alone is awesome.

Are you familiar with the neighborhood / neighbors? It's always nice to have an idea of where you're at.

It really does come down to basics, keep all doors + windows locked, a security system / cameras is nice, keep your phone close by and also try and get a neighbor or two's numbers, that way, you can alert them if you ever need to.

Make sure it isn't easy to break into your house, or see into your house. If you have windows that are easily overlooked, you can get see-through mirrored stickers on them so that you can see out but people can't see in.

Put a guy's name on your doorbell/ mailbox, or two separate initials so it doesn't look like a single woman lives there. I do this with uber - my uber is Amonette2012 and Husband with a pic of us both, so the driver expects either a couple or possbly a guy.

Get an outside camera of some sort so you can see who is at the door and who had been around when you're not there. We have an Amazon one, which is very functional, but it's not that competitive on price so I'd shop around. Also get an indoor camera for your living room that's obvious so people who come over that you aren't sure about know they're on a cloud camera which has already recorded them entering. (I just say 'oh btw I have security cameras', it's common enough these days but it's nice to mention it out of politeness I think.)

When it gets warm, stick a dog bowl outside your house. You will make friends with female dog owners, which is a great way to make friends and make sure that if anyone is really stalking you they know you're friends with all the people with big dogs.

If someone walks past and makes conversation that you're kind of iffy about, just mention your boyfriend is inside in a roundabout way. Let it be known locally that you're not single (or at least that you have at least one guy around the place) and you're less likely to end up with weird neighbors at your door. Don't be afraid to talk to your imaginary man when you're going to answer the door, e.g. 'I got it honey just stick some pants on in case it's my friend' etc.

Never let a first date pick you up at your house.

Never let a person who clearly needs somewhere to live know you have a spare bedroom unless you actually like them and want to live with them, especially a guy. Watch out for ones who want a nice place to move into and a woman to care for them.

Keep the place clutter free and as easy to walk around in as possible, so you can move around freely without tripping or injuring yourself (in case of fires and power outages). Ensure that you thoroughly know your own house's layout, wherever you live.

Think like an intruder; how'd you try to break into your own home? A different point of view always helps for defence!

Keep a cellphone charged, always. A cheap push button phone will do the trick, no need for a fancy phone.

Get the Ring security system. It's modular, DIY, and affordable. It is connected to your phone which you could monitor yourself or pay the $100/yr for professional monitoring. Once you move out, you can easily take the system down with no damage to the apartment.

Living alone is something you have to get used to, but it is not without it's benefits. Having lived in many places by myself, here are the common experiences I have had that might help you:

Each place has its own set of sounds. Creaks, groans, ticks, scrapes and more. Learn them and have a rough idea of what they are coming from. This will help you learn and understand your place, it will help you rest easier when you hear these noises but most importantly it will also allow you to recognize sounds that are out of the ordinary.

Leaving a light on costs a bit of electricty, but will save your home from looking unlived in. This has many benefits, not only does it distract criminal elements but it can also help with your own getting accustomed to your new place.

On the flipside of that, make sure you have privacy. Get curtains/blinds, and use them at night. You want to look lived in, but you also don't want to be broadcasting to the street what your nightly routine is.

Have a security routine before you go to bed. Double check points of entry, and make sure they are locked. Make sure candles are no longer lit, make sure any other potential fire hazards are extinguished. Knowing that my place is locked up and I won't burn alive whilst asleep really aids me in falling asleep in the first place.

Don't worry about talking to your new place - vocalizing ideas or thoughts can help our brain process them better. I see you have a dog, talk to the dog about any fears you have at night. Even if you don't have a dog, talk to something, even if it's just yourself - walking through a big empty place at night is way less scarey if it is filled with the noise of you talking your way through it.

I tend to find that once I can navigate my way around the house/flat at night time without having to wake up fully and without having to put on lights, that is when a house/flat feels like a home - that is my rough yardstick anyway - successfully stumbling from my bed to the toilet half asleep in the dark is when I know the place is finally home.

Once you've got yourself settled - enjoy the freedom! Rearrange rooms as much as you like, decide a routine of cleaning that works for you, chill and relax where-ever you like - try out each room for eating, socializing, working or whatever and see what is best for you. You have more freedom to discover yourself and how you like to live right now than you will ever have in your life - up until this point you have (most likely) lived according to how your parents lived, and when you live with other people compromises have to be made in one form or another - but right now, you can live how you like and you don't have to make a single compromise with anyone else - make the most of this freedom! You will miss it when it's gone.

DONT watch “I Survived”. Made that mistake when the bf went out of town and took the dog. It was me and this super addicting, horrifying show.
I thought every sound was a marauding group of maniacs intent on murdering me.

Surveillance (Nest or Ring) and smart switches (they work with existing lamps, etc so they are cheaper than smart bulbs, and with Wemo you can control the switch while you're away from home, aka your WiFi network, or set a schedule for them to turn on).

The appearance of security are usually enough to deter any scammers, package thieves or other perpetrators. Also, prop up some mannequins by your windows and attach a wire-pulley system to yourself and have a little personal dance party to "Jingle Bell Rock". Great for cardio.

I put wooden or metal rods in the windows so they can’t be opened from the outside. Also I hate quiet at night
I often put on Friends or Judge Judy or something on and put it on auto play and fall asleep to it.
Also even though it may seem childish, when I was single having a fluffy bear or blanket or pillow to cuddle was nice. Especially in the winter I would put a hot water bottle with it so it was warm and soft and comforting.

A driveway alarm to alert you when someone pulls in might be helpful. I have friends who live deep in the country who find it useful. But it might also give you a heart attack anytime someone uses your driveway to turn around.

I linked you to a fairly high rated one, but they’re as low as $15 on Amazon.

Put a big pair of men’s work boots outside your back door. Also, put a “beware of dog” sign somewhere in your front yard, regardless of if you actually have a dog. If you have an alarm system, often times they will provide you with a sign to put in your flowerbed that says something like “protected by _____.” If you don’t have an alarm system, look into one!

A good idea when moving into any new apartment or house is to take the door off of its hindges and replace the screwsthat hold the hindges to the wall with much longer ones. It will hold your door in place much better if someone ever does try to break in.

Pepper gel is far more effective than pepper spray, is easier to aim than a gun, if you put it in a fire extinguisher holder it looks almost identical to your everyday kitchen fire extinguisher and is relatively cheap.

John Lovell covers it in his video about home defense with children, but a lot of what he says still applies to people living alone or maybe just are comfortable around guns.

Not a woman so I don’t know if I’m allowed to comment here, but I always look my bedroom door on top of the entrance doors (which are of course locked) which makes me feel much safer. I probably won’t hear someone picking the lock on my house doors, if that ever happened, but in my bedroom door? Probably gonna hear it.

I’ve lived alone for ages in an apartment.. you kinda get used to it and the noises. Once that settles you’ll know a weird noise and what to do.

I never open the door for a knock I’m not expecting.

Also if you hear a weird noise while watching tv. Don’t turn it off or mute, leave it on and text someone. If you’re doing something have your phone near you Incase you notice something weird and dial/text someone who lives close by. Casually chat and suggest them coming over or have a safe word.

When I sell furniture or someone I don’t know coming over I tell my mum to call me after 15 mins.

I don’t live alone but my husband works nights so I’m alone at night. It freaked me out a little at first but now I’m so used to it I don’t even think about it. I have a security system and all the stickers and signs to go along with it. I know that’s not fool proof but I figured it at least makes me a slightly harder target.

My mom's always told me to shake up my route home in case someone was following me home. What I believe her logic was was that potential robbers or whatever memorize your schedule before breaking in. Other than that, have people over a lot if you can. Otherwise just generally dont advertise that you live alone or advertise (accidentally) that you own something that's a robbery target.

I'm not sure about your dog, but I started barking back at my two whenever I come through the door. Its kind of annoying now but they always barks when someones at the door. I also taught them "go get 'em" for whenever I hear a bump in the night. They immiediately jump up and run around my main floor barking and then run to get back in bed with me. This was a bit more complicated but I pretty much associated "go get 'em" with "there's a squirrel or cat".

Tldr: barking dogs and a confusing schedule make for good deterrents ?

change the locks, if you can't afford a security system you can always place pressure rods in windows and sliding doors and for your front door to reinforce it take the little dinky screws out and replace it with deck screws

Besides having an alarm. Something my dad taught me. Bring all valuables upstairs with you. Don't have keys of cars hanging or just in a bowl, have them on your bedside locker. Same with phones/tablets/ jewellery. His logic: burglar will have to make noise and they want to avoid the homeowner as much they can. You're more likely to wake up of someone's making noise right beside you and most burglars would think again before going into an occupied bedroom. Also dont leave stealable things in plain sight. If someone just looks in your window what can they see? A tablet on the couch, a purse on the counter. That gives them the notion to try and break in.

Another thing is (I know American houses are all open plan downstairs so this might not work if you're in a typical USA house) But close all doors and lock them if you can. If a burglar breaks into my back living room they will have to make a hell of a lot of noise to try and get out of a locked room. Yeah they can steal my tv but if I've done the first tip I gave you I can avoid having a laptop or tablet stolen if I just left them there. It also helps with fires. A fire will have to break down the door before anything and might give you extra time to get out. Also with a burglar, if they are bat shit crazy and try to break down the door, you could possibly hear it and get yourself to a safe place and call the cops.

Sorry I should have explained. My downstairs is a hallway with 3 doors. Two tv rooms and a kitchen. If a fire breaks out in those rooms those doors are the ones that can help. My bedroom is upstairs so I have a clean run to the front door or vice versa for the firemen

Ive lived on my own since 22 and I live in a fairly safe country. However, if I lived in the US (boyfriend is American, I've spent quite sometime over there) I would have a pepperspray and knife by the bedside and a chain on door always made me feel safe too. And i never ever want to live on ground floor alone. I always live as high up as possible, for some reason that makes me feel hella safe.

These are all great logical suggestions and you should do it. But if you feel uneasy definitely call your mom or a friend when you get home to do a “walk through” while you get used to it. They’ll be happy to give you reassurance

Keep a weapon of some kind near your bed within grabbing reach. Just a few nights ago I had the scare of my life when some shadows in my kitchen created the contour of a large man near my front door (I can see the front door from my bed, small open apartment). Holy shit I was terrified. I honestly thought I was staring at my potential death. The first thing I did was panic and reach for some kind of light. I noticed I didn't have anything near me to protect myself with also. Thank god it was just shadows playing tricks on me, but I learned in those seconds of panic that a weapon is really a must.

Honestly, I wouldn't be too paranoid. Most burglaries are during the day, and they tend to be spur of the moment decisions where someone just picks a random house and goes--the stereotype of someone watching your movements to see if you live alone or when you're home is like exceptionally rare. (trust me, I'm a criminologist!) So your chance of being robbed/burglarized is not going to be much different than anyone else near you--which is essentially zero. Honestly, your biggest fear should probably be the people that you let into your house--so just be conscious of who you invite over (no dudes you just met on tinder, no friends of friends that you've never met, no one with a history of domestic violence, etc.).

Personally, I'd look into some smart home technology just because 1) it can help with security and 2) it's got other uses as well. Getting smart lights that you can control with your phone is nice so you could turn them on before walking in the door, or if you're upstairs and get scared of a noise you can turn the lights all on with your phone. Plus, if you get fun colors, then they can be really fun to use with friends (dance party!). You can also put a camera by the front and back door and be able to view that from your phone as well, even when you're not home (also useful for keeping an eye on packages so no one can steal them if they're sitting on your front door!). You can add/switch the locks on your house to one of those code locks (I'd change your locks anyway any time you buy a new house), which can be changed frequently if you're a bit worried or paranoid (and you don't have to have a spare key hidden anywhere). I'd also buy some version of a home assistant just for fun--but lets say you had some crazy accident and fell and broke your leg and weren't anywhere near a phone you could say "Hey Alexa, text mom that I've fallen and she needs to call 911" or something like that. But you can also use it to order your christmas presents! I feel like when you buy things just for security purposes it makes you more paranoid, but a lot of the smart home stuff has multiple uses which means you can have fun with them too!

Unfortunately I threw it away when I got the flyer and decided to wait and see if the electric company calls to setup an appointment and they never did so I just assumed it was a scam and didn't do anything about it

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If you dont want to buy a security system, buy a gun or have a knife at night with you, there are two things I recommend.

A) get a thing of pepper spray for your bedside.

B) get an air horn can and tell neighbors (that you trust) that if they hear the horn in the middle of the night, to call 911.

I also have 3 video cameras recording 24 hrs a day I got from Amazon. If I ever hear anything downstairs in the middle of the night, I just open the app on my phone to see if it's my imagination running amok again or not.

Haven't seen this mentioned yet, but I keep a maglight on my nightstand (in addition to the gun in my nightstand, and my big dog on the bed). A maglight is super bright, and heavy af, so doubles as a weapon. I also keep one in the door of my car.

Throwaway just for this because I never post on this site. Get a firearm, learn how to use the firearm. I used to do a lot of bad things, and the only thing that makes a woman equal to a man who wants to do her harm is a firearm. As far as I can tell, only one person has even vaguely suggested a gun. A high point is cheap, the ammo is cheap, and every state in the union lets you get a gun to keep in the home or use at the range. Buy a gun, put many rounds through the gun, practice quickly accessing the gun from where it is from your house. In the worst case scenario everything else only warns you before someone kills you, with a gun you defend yourself. Please for the love of God every woman here who lives alone, and a matter of fact every woman, understand this. Only a gun can save your life if a strong man wants it.